Safety-net for elevator-shafts.



PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

J. S. KERPOOT. SAFETY NET FUR ELBVATOR `SHAFTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY28, 1907.

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`IOHN S. KERFOOT, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA.

SAFETY-NET FOR ELEVATOR-SHAFTS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

Application filed May 28, 1907. Serial No. 376,095.

. safety net, adapted to be placed in an elevator shaft at the bottom thereof, without interfering with the operation of the elevator, and capable of cushioning the fall of a person down the elevator shaft to prevent a seri ous injury resulting from an accident of that character.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims heretoappended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing z-Figure 1 is a plan view of a safety net, constructed in accordance with this invention and shown arranged at the bottom of an elevator shaft. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line -x of Fig. 1.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawino'.

C1 designates a horizontal net, constructed of Wire netting, or other suitable material,

and arranged at the bottom of an elevator shaft 2, and supported above and in spaced relation with the concrete base 3 of the elevator shaft2 by coiled springs 4 and 5, arranged beneath the marginal edge of the net and at an intermediate point. The net, which may be made with any size mesh and any strength of wire to suit the height of a building and the size of an elevator shaft, is stretched on and attached at the edges to an open marginal frame 6 of rectangular, or other shape to conform to the configuration of the elevator shaft to which the safety net is to be applied. The upper ends 4a of the springs are seciu'ed to the marginal frame by being partially coiled around the sides thereof, but

they may be connected with the frame in any other desired manner.

The marginal frame, which can be made of any suitable material, may be cheaply constructed of tubular metal, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it is composed of sides connected at the corners of the frame by L-shaped couplings 7. The marginal springs, which may be of any desired number, are designed to be varied. in size and strength to adapt them to the height of the -building and the size of the elevator shaft,

which is to be e uipped with the safety net, and they are andliored at their lower ends by means of projecting studs 8, consisting of short pieces of tubing, or other suitable material, embedded in the base 3 and projecting upwardly therefrom. The projecting studs 3 extend into the lower ends of the coiled springs 4L and prevent the springs from becoming displaced. The lower ends of the springs may be secured to the studs, if de sired.

In the accompanying drawing a single intermediate spring 5 is shown, arranged beneath the center' of the net, but it will be readily apparent that any number of intermediate springs may be employed to prevent the central portion of the net from sagging too much under the weight of a person. This central cushioning means will'prevent a person from being thrown against the walls of the elevator shaft by the rebound of the safety net. The upper end of the spring 5 is suitably connected to the net, and the lower end, which is seated on the cement base 3, is anchored by a projecting stud 9, similar to those heretofore described.

When the safety net is subjected to the weight of a person falling down the elevator shaft, the marginal springs will cushion the fall and the net will also yield at the center and increase the cushioning action of the device, so that serious injury will not result when a person accidentally falls down an elevator shaft. If desired, a safety net may be applied to the top of the elevator car to prevent injury to persons falling down the shaft when the car is at the bottom thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is;-

1. A safety device for elevator shafts comprising an open horizontal frame, a horizontal net secured to and carried by the frame,

and a plurality Aof cushioning sprin s located beneath the frame and beneath t e net in spaced relation with the sidesof the frame to assist in maintaining the net in the same horizontal plane as kthe frame, said springs constituting the sole connection of the net...

toany point of support and located below the plane of the net at all times.

2. A safety device for elevator shafts comprising an open horizontal frame, a horizontal net secured to and carried by the frame, and a plurality of cushioning springs arranged in spaced relation beneath the frame and constituting the sole support of the same and the net, and means for interlocking the lower ends of the springs with the bottom of an elevator shaft, said springs constituting the sole connection between the net to any point of support and located Ibelow the plane of the net at all times.

3. The combination with van elevator shaft7 of a safety device com rising an open frame conforming tothe con iguration of the shaft, a net secured to the frame, coiled springs located beneath the frame and the net and forming the sole support of the same,

and, studs projecting above thebottom of the' elevator shaft and fitting in the lower ends of the coiled springs, said springs constituting the sole connection of the net to any point of support and located below the plane of the net at all times.v

4. A safety vdevice for elevator shafts comprising a horizontal net, and yieldable means supporting the net and forming the sole connection of the same to any point of support and located below the plane of the net at alll times.

5. cA safety device for elevator shafts comprising a horizontal net, and yieldable means supporting the net and forming the sole'connection of the same to any point of support and located below the plane of the net at all times, said means being yieldable vertically and laterally.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing vas my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. KERFOOT. Witnesses:

M. J. MCCARTY, EDWARD OLsoN. 

